Treatment of vegetable fibers and materials.



UNITED STATEs PATENT oFnIcE.

mm. scnnwtumn, or MOSCOW, RUSSIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro LA socm'rn momma.

4 'WOLOKNO scnnwnun, or MOSCOW, RUSSIA.

TREATMENT or VEGETABLE FIBERS AND MATERIALS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may comma Be"t known that I,WLAD IMIR Somswnuu, a sub ect of the Emperor of Russia, residing at Moscow, Russia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Treatment of Vegetable Fibers and Materials, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that warm alcohols have a cleansing and softening efl'ect upon raw fibers such as flax, hemp, and the like and various rocesses have been devised for utilizing a cohols to prepare the fibers for spinning and weaving.

This invention relates to an improved process for treating flax, hemp, cotton and similar fibers v with warmed alcohols, whereby a greatly improved product is obtained the said process being applicable to raw fibers, spun thread, yarn or woven fabric.

Further, hemp fiber, on the Russian market particularly, is mostly coarse and suitable only for the lowest thread numbers,

' but by chemically treating this fiber by my process, it can be made to produce -not only the lower thread numbers but numbers even higher thah 40.

Notwithstanding the fact that a preparatory chemical cleansing of the-hemp fiber offers great advantages in thatfiner threads can be spun, it isnotatpresent employed in practice as heretofore no cleansing process applicable both to the treatment of raw fiber and spun thread has been known.

Accordin to the process I propose, the fiber, threa or woven fabric, 1s submitted to fewer operations than is usually the case, and becomes lustrous and soft to the touch.

When fibers are treated they are not twisted, bent, or stuck together, or reduced to fine or short filaments, which latter is a most important point in weaving. Also, the same method of cleansing, more energetically applied, reduces the fibers to fine filaments, without however, impairing the soundness of the cellular tissue said filaments being easily converted by suitable machinery into a material resembling cotton wool. i

Accordin to my invention the raw fiber, spun threa or woven fabric, is first boiled or steamed in a closed vessel containing an alkaline solution'to 'whicluhas been added a mixture of alcohol, and naphthenic acid. This naphthenic acid occurs naturally in oils Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June'22, 1911. Serial No. 684,759.

process the materials to be treated are boiled Patented Mai-J19, 1912.

from the Baku district,and is also contained in the organic acid residues obtaiuedin the refining andmanufacture of naphtha and the term naphthenic acid in this present specification 1s intended to cover the use of such acid residues. After a certain time the solution is drawnofi and the materials are preferably rinsed with hot water and then treated with a supply of warmed alcohol with or without the addition of naphthenic acid. This alcohol is preferably clrculated through the materials by suitable stirrers, or other means, and the vessel is warmed to a suitable temperature. After a time the alcohol is withdrawn and'if a greater degree of cleansing or softness is desired a resh supply of alcohol, with or without the addition of naphthenic acid is, run into the vessel and the warming continued. This treatment with alcohol may be repeated several times until the desired degree of cleanlinessand softness is reached. The alcohol is then finally withdrawn and the materials dried by' means of hot air orfiiprliated steam. 'Kll the above operations may be carried out in one and the same vessel and the used alcohol may be regenerated by distillation in the known manner in a still.

In a suitable method of carrying out my or steamed to a temperature of between 90 and 100 C. in an alkaline solution which may be caustic soda of a density of 1 to'1 Baum for materials of flax and hemp, but not of a higher density than 4 Baum for cotton materials. To this alkaline solution is added 1% of the weight of the materials treated of ethyl alcohol, and -g% of naphthenic acid. The ethyl alcohol used is preferably unpurified and is mixed with fusel oil or with 5% of methyl alcohol, or other alcoholic impurity but alcohols other than ethyl alcohol may equally well be employed. The materials are heated in the above solution to a temperature not exceeding 100 C. at which temperature the alcohol vapor has a tension of two atmospheres, thggglgtigm being preferabl circulated or agitated by meaTs of stirring for about SIX hours, after which" the solution is run out and the ma- 1'05 to 70 C. the strength of'the alcohol H one hour the aggglmljs withdrawn and if a high degree 0 cleanliness is desired afrgsh...

stand ,subsmggt treatment with a'chlorid. Cgttonfibenandits products ma be treated taining a mixture'of .flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and prodcarbon atoms? removedand the c an tents of the vessel dried by. means gf steam or hot air. If for the .stearic or'oleic acid be added to the solution TcTfiiafilTin amoiifitof stearic acid equal 'to 1% of the weight of the alcohol used may be usefully added. Also, the efi'ect is further strengthened if by weight of light the usual materials and flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and prod- "ucts formed therefrom inwhich the'mate l Fr eater than 60 according to Tralles alcoolmeter. This alcohol may be a mixture of ethyl alcohol and naphthenic acid in the proportions above described or any other suit-able alcohol with or without the addition of fusel oils may be used. After about supply run in, the heatin being continued for two hours the alcohol eing then finally second application of the' spirit, alcohol of a; strength of 90 to 95 Tralles is used, there is no necessity todry thematerials, thus a great saving of expense is effected. The l dalcohol is regenerated by distillationin any known convenient manner.

It has been found that the cleansin effect is increased if a small amount of a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms such as of alcohol and naphthenic acid, or to the soluti on of alcohol alone when such is used,

coal oil be added and oleic acids.

In the above manner, raw fibers 5 un thread and woven fabric ma e said materials b e i 1g bleachg1 to a perfect whiteness more easilyand in fewer operations than usual, and being better able to together with.the stearic by my process. Also flax and em fibers treated by my process may bejlye with processes used for cotton fibers and goods.

What I claim is:-- 1. A process for cleansing and softening ucts formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solutionconan alcohol and naphthenic acid.

2. A process for cleansing and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and products formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic and stearic acids.

3. A process for cleansing and softening ucts -formed therefrom in which the mate-' rials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containing 18 4:-A-process for cleansing softening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and prodrials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic acid, the solution being then removed and the materials treated with 6. A process for cleansing and softening flax, hemp, cotton and likefiber and products formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solutioncontaining a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic acid, the solution being then re-. I

moved and the materials treated with warmed alcohol and naphthenic and stearic acids. 1

7. A process for cleansing and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and products formed therefrom in which the materials areboiled in an alkaline solution containing amixture of an alcohol and naphthenic acid, the solution being -then removed and the ,materials treated with warmed alcohol and naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms;

8. A process for cleansing andsoftening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and products formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic and stearic acids, the solution being then removed and the materials treated with warmed alcohol and'then washed and dried. &

9. A process for cleansing and softening 'flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and products formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled. in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic and stearic acids, the solution being then removedand the materials' treated with warmed alcohol and naphthenic acid and then .washed and dried.

' 10. A process for cleansin and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like ber and products formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containinga mixture of an alcohol and naph-' thenic and stearic acids, the 'solution being then removed and the materials treated with warmed alcohol and naphthenic and stearic acids and then washed and dried. v a

11. A process for cleansing and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber'and prod- .ucts formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture'of an alcohol and naphthenic and stearic acids, the solution bem then removed and the materials treated then washed and dried.

.then washed and dried.

-.warmed alcohol and naphthenic acid and warmed alcohol and naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms, and

12. A process for cleansing and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and'products formed therefrom in which the mate rials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms, the solution being then removed and the materials treated with then washed and dried.

13. A process for cleansing and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and prod- ,ucts formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic acid and a fatty acid' containing 18 carbon atoms, the solution being then removed and the materials treated with warmed alcohol and na'phthenic and stearic' acids and then washed and dried.

14. A process for cleansing and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like fiber and prod-v ucts formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol and naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms, the solution being then re-' moved and the materials treated with warmed alcohol and naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms and 15. A process for cleansing and softening flax hemp cotton and like fibers and products formed therefrom in which the mate-' rials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing 1% of the weight of said materials of ethyl alcohol mixed with 5% of alcoholic and stearic acids and impurity and 5% of naphthenic acid.

16. A process for cleansingand softening.

flax, hemp, cotton and like fibers and prod ucts formedtherefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol, naphthenic and stearic acids and light coal oil substan-- tially as described. I a

17. A process for cleansin and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like bers and products formed rials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol, naphthenlc and stearic acids and light coal-oil thesolution being then removed and the materials therefrom in which the matetreated with warmed alcohol, naphthenic.

with light coal oil. 18. A process for cleansin and softening flax, hemp, cotton and like bers and products formed therefrom in which the materials taining a 'mixture of an alcohol, naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms and light coal oil substantially as described. 19. A process flax, hemp, cotton and like fibers and products formed therefrom in which the materials are boiled in an alkaline solution containing a mixture of an alcohol, naphthenic acid and a fatty acid containin atoms and light coal oil, the so ution being then removed and the materials treated with warmed alcohol, naphthenic and oleic acids and light coal oil-substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. i r V WLADIMIR SCHEWELIN.

- Witnesses: a E. RICHTER, W. A. HERRMA'N.

for cleansing and softening.

18 carbon are boiled in an alkaline solution con- 

